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Merck

Advances in tailoring resorcinol-formaldehyde organic and carbon gels.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) (2011-05-25)
Ahmed M Elkhatat, Shaheen A Al-Muhtaseb
ABSTRACT

An overview on the preparation and properties of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) organic and carbon gels reveals the fascinating and remarkably flexible properties of RF carbon and organic gels and how these properties are related to the synthesis and processing conditions. The structural properties can be easily tailored by rigidly controlling such conditions. However, slight variations in some conditions may cause drastic variations in the structural characteristics, and hence properties. Therefore, the effects of different conditions must be well-understood before attempting to tailor organic or carbon gels to specific applications. The most important factors that affect the properties of an organic gel are the precursor concentrations, the catalyst type and concentration, the time and temperature of curing, and the drying method. In addition to these factors, characteristics of activated carbon gels also depend on the pyrolysis temperature and the activation method. These conditions impact the structural and performance characteristics significantly.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Resorcinol, SAJ first grade, ≥98.0%
Sigma-Aldrich
Resorcinol, JIS special grade, ≥99.0%
Supelco
Resorcinol, certified reference material, TraceCERT®, Manufactured by: Sigma-Aldrich Production GmbH, Switzerland
Sigma-Aldrich
Resorcinol, BioXtra, ≥99%
Sigma-Aldrich
Resorcinol, ReagentPlus®, 99%
Sigma-Aldrich
Resorcinol, ACS reagent, ≥99.0%
Sigma-Aldrich
Resorcinol, ≥98%, FG
Sigma-Aldrich
Resorcinol, meets analytical specification of Ph. Eur., BP, 98.5-100.5% (calc. to the dried substance)
Resorcinol, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
Hymecromone impurity A, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard